Page 59 of Rebel Fae
Still invisible, I flew through the garage toward the main doors and pushed through. It had been a while since I’d been in this area of the dome, and the layout was always confusing, so, when I turned a corner and saw a wall-mounted map, I nearly jumped for joy.
The prison cells were on the lower level, one floor below me. If I got down there, I’d recognize where they were keeping Arryn, but I wouldn’t be able to get in without those scan cards the guards carried.
I could steal one or I could find Vaughn.
The thought of seeing him again, of having him with me as we attempted this insane jailbreak, felt too tempting to ignore. But where would he be? The building was massive, and I ignored what they had him doing since removing him from our group.
Vaughn, where are you? Where would you be?
Footsteps made me freeze. I pressed my body close to the hallway wall just as two workers walked by, large males with massive shoulders and giant arms. Were they werewolf guards? Did they know Vaughn?
I turned and silently followed behind them.
“... hope there’s good food. Let’s hope they don’t serve the same slop they do on L.L. We’ll be sick for a week,” one guard complained to the other as they walked.
“Whatever. It’s better than duty. And I heard they have cake.” The big guard arched an eyebrow.
“Oh, yeah, it’s what’s-her-face’s birthday. If she wasn’t such a bitch, I’d be excited.” He smirked, watching his companion to see if he’d join in on the gossip, but he didn’t.
“Keep your mouth shut,” the second guard whispered. “You know what they do to those that displease them.” He looked around as if wondering if someone was listening.
Someonewaslistening. Could what’s-her-face be Adaline?
We took a corner and approached a set of double doors. Behind them, I could hear the hum of conversation. When the guards pushed through, I rushed forward and slipped in just behind them.
I found myself inside a cafeteria full of guards. My eyes darted around to each large character, many with guns or batons at their hips.
What was I thinking?I needed to get out right away.
Then my eyes found Vaughn.
He was sitting at one of those long bench-style tables squished between two other guards all in similar uniforms. His head was down, and he didn’t seem to enjoy the banter like the others around him. It definitely was a party, though a subdued one. There was a birthday banner on the far wall and a table with a cake on it. Adaline and Alexander Habermann were standing beside it with their hands clasped. Neither appeared festive. They both looked like they’d rather be elsewhere.
A few minutes passed while the guards and other staff chatted. Some drank punch and ate the cookies that rested near the cake. Soon, Alexander walked over, picked up a microphone, and brought it to his lips. It let off a whining sound that got everyone’s attention.
“Hello, everyone. We will get started in a few minutes. Has anyone seen the guest of honor? Has anyone seen Karen?”
Wait, what? Karen?
A guard stood up. “She didn’t report in from that patrol run earlier. I’ll go check the garage.”
Check the garage?! My insides seized up and froze like glacial ice. They would find her body. They would know what I’d done. I only had minutes. My eyes fell on Vaughn across the room.
Someone rushed through the double doors and ran into the room, making everyone turn.
“Gerry just got back from the garage. Someone attacked Karen. He found her in the Jeep knocked out!”
Well, so much for a few minutes.
In an instant, the room was full of noise and chatter. Guards stood and started rushing for the doors as others shouted orders to those across the room. I stood with my back to the wall and my heart threatening to rip out of my chest. None of this was in the plan. Everything was falling apart. Now I couldn’t get to Arryn or Courtney. The building would be in lockdown. Everything was crumbling around me.
A loud squeal cut in from above, and Alexander Habermann’s amplified voice cut through the din. “Everyone, listen to me.”
Guards stopped shuffling around and turned toward the front of the room where Alexander Habermann stood with the microphone.
“Someone has broken in and attacked Karen. I want every available guard on this. Find the culprits. Now.”
At his words, nearly every guard turned and exited, brushing so close to me I could smell the punch on their breath. I held mine and tried not to move a muscle, but my eyes kept tabs on Vaughn. Soon, he was coming this way, walking beside a throng of about five guards. If I didn’t do something now, I’d lose him for good.
